Safe



C. K. ERNST April 10, 1934.

SAFE

- Filed April 19, '1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 10, 1934. c. K. ERNST 1,954,667

SAFE

Filed April 19, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y 54% /MW/ Patented Apr. 10, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 22 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in safes in which valuables can be protected from fire and theft, and particularly to safes of this kind which may be permanently installed in a buildmg,

Safes of this kind as heretofore made have either been of a heavy or bulky type which cannot be readily removed by thieves, or wall safes built into the wall of a building. Both of these types of safes can be broken into by burglars equipped with the necessary tools or explosives.

The objects of this invention are to provide a safe in which the compartment containing the valuables is located in the ground where access to the same with tools or explosives is rendered extremely diflicult, if not impossible; also to provide a safe of this kind in which the locking mechanism therefor is also located in the ground to a sufficient extent so that this locking mechanism is practically inaccessible to thieves; also to provide a safe of this kind which is provided with means located in a convenient location for actuating the lock, and in which the space between such means and said lock contains obstructions or means for rendering said lock inaccessible; also to provide a safe including an outer housing permanently secured in the ground and an inner member removable out of said housing and arranged to be locked to the outer housing; also to provide a safe of this kind in which the outer housing is provided in the upper portion thereof with an enlarged compartment for the reception of valuables, and which is adapted to be closed by a look; also to provide a safe in which the lock actuating means for the inner or removable member may be contained in or inserted and operated from the enlarged compartment of the outer housing; also to provide a safe of this kind with means whereby valuables may be deposited in the underground compartment without unlocking the safe; also to provide a safe of this kind having a compartment for valuables and a tumbler lock arranged at a considerable distance below the ground and having a dial for the lock arranged to be actuated from above the ground;

and also to provide a safe having a plurality of valuables compartments which may be removed from the safe either separately or together.

Gther objects are to provide a safe of the construction described which may be either installed in the ground in a vertical position, or which may be arranged horizontally in a building within a relatively large mass of reinforced concrete, a mass of masonry or other material, such as to render access to the contents of the safe practically impossible or extremely difficult; and also to provide a safe in which the dial or like element of the lock actuating means is constructed so as to be separately removable or detachable so that said element may be kept in another place in r custody of the owner or a designated person.

A further object is to provide a safe construction in which a plurality of said housings with their complementary removable inner members are connected to a single upper compartment, the latter being accessible by the manipulation of a single lock, while said inner members may be each controlled by a difierent dial or like element to provide means by which the valuables of diiierent persons may be stored; and also to improve safes of this kind in other respects hereinafter specified.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is an elevation, partly in section, of a safe embodying my invention, showing the ground in section and the inner member removed from the housing member of the safe.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a safe of slightly modified construction with the inner member locked to the outer member.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section thereof, on line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional 4-4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view thereof, partly in section on line 5-5, Fig. 2, on a still larger scale.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a building having a safe of slightly modified construction installed therein.

Fig. 7 is an elevation, partly in section showing a construction in which a plurality of housings, and a corresponding number of inner members are associated with a single enlarged upper compartment.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, showing a modified connection between the safe locking mechanism and the actuating means therefor.

The safe includes an outer housing or shell 10, Figs. 1 and 6, and 101, Fig. 2, which is of elongated tubular form, that shown being of rectangular cross sectional shape, although it will be obvious that this housing may be of circular cross section or of any other suitable shape. The housing is arranged to be sunk into the ground prefably by digging a hole of substantial size and depth approximately equal to or somewhat greater than the length of the housing, below the floor of a cellar or basement, or in the case of buildings plan View thereof, on line without cellars or basements, the hole may be dug through the floor of the building. The housing 10 or 101 is then securely arranged in this hole to prevent withdrawal of the same, and this may be done by surrounding the housing with a relatively large mass of concrete 11, which may, if desired, have metal reinforcing bars 12 arranged therein. Preferably the concrete is poured around the housing and the reinforcing bars in the usual manner.

The housing may be provided with projections of any suitable kind to prevent withdrawal of the outer shell out of the concrete or other material surrounding it, such for example as a base plate 14 secured to the bottom of the housing. The housing is preferably made of a material capable of resisting corrosion due to moisture, such for example as copper, bronze, stainless steel, or similar material. Because of the fact that this housing is rendered very difiicult of access by being sunk into the ground, and furthermore, by being surrounded by concrete or similar material, the housing need not be made of such thick and strong material as is ordinarily used in safes arranged above the ground.

The upper end of the housing 10 or 101 may terminate at or slightly above the floor below which it is sunk, and if desired, the housing may be provided at its upper end with an enlarged enclosure, receptacle or cabinet 15 which may be connected with or secured to the housing in any suitable manner, for example, by means of a down wardly extending flange 16 telescoping upon the upper end of the housing 10 or 101 and secured thereto. The compartment 15 may be provided at its upper end with a removable or hinged cover or lid 18, that shown being hinged at 19 and provided with a lock 20 of any suitable kind, and having a bolt 21 engaging a shoulder 22 formed on the compartment 15. In the particular construction shown, the upper face of the compartment is substantially flush with the top surface 24 of the concrete in which the safe is embedded, which concrete may project slightly above the floor 25 to prevent water which may collect on this floor from entering into the housing 10 or 101.

30 represents an inner member which is slidable into and out of the housing, and which may be locked to the housing to prevent unauthorized removal thereof. This member is preferably of cage-like form, being, in the construction illustratecl, built up of upright angle bars 26 which are spaced to engage in the corners of the housing 10 or 101. A compartment 31 is secured in the lower portion of the member 30 for the reception of valuables, and the inner member may be locked to the outer member by means of suitable locking mechanism. In the construction illustrated, a locking mechanism is located in the lower portion of the inner member where it will be inaccessible to burglars or thieves, and the actuating means for this locking mechanism are preferably located at the upper portion of the inner member. In the particular safe shown, the locking mechanism is located within a shell or housing 32, which confines the parts of the lock and which is secured to the inner member of the safe in or adjacent the lower compartment 31. The locking mechanism is not shown in detail, since it does not by itself constitute a part of this invention. The mechanism may, for example, be of the tumbler type commonly used on safes and may be actuated by means of a dial 33 arranged at the upper end of the inner member and connected to the tumbler mechanism by means of a rod or shaft 3 1. A bolt 35 may extend into a recess or outwardly extending projection 36 of the outer housing for locking the inner member to the outer housing. It will be understood, however, that any other suitable means for locking the inner and outer members together may be employed, and the locking means need not necessarily be mounted on the inner removable member.

In the particular construction illustrated, said housing 32 is secured to a transverse wall 39, which together with a bottom wall 38 is welded or otherwise secured to the angles 26 and forms the upper and lower walls of the compartment 31 for the valuables. This compartment is constructed so that the interior thereof may be accessible when removed from the outer housing and for this purpose, the compartment may have an opening 40 therein which may, if desired, be provided. with a door (not shown), although such door is not necessary, since the wall of the outer housing 10 or 101 will prevent valuables from getting out of the compartment 31 while the inner member is within the outer housing. The upper end of the inner member is preferably closed by means of a top plate 12 which may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the upper ends of the angles 26 of the inner member, and

the space in the inner member between the upper wall 39 of the valuables compartment and the top wall 12 may be filled with obstructing means of any suitable or desired type to prevent access to the locking mechanism and to the valuables compartment, in case the top plate 42 of ment is broken away or otherwise removed. In the particular construction shown for this purpose, one or more groups 10 of vertical and transverse webs or partitions are employed which renthe compart- 1 w der access to the lower valuables compartment diflicult, if not impossible, without materially increasing the weight of said inner member. Said groups 40 are composed of vertically disposed rings or annular members 13 alternating with welded or webs 44, which in turn are welded to the upright angle bars 26 of the inner member or cage 3 These obstructions will prevent a crow bar or other heavy implement from being inserted downwardly within the inner member after the top plate 42 has been broken or removed. The plates or webs 44 are provided with alined apertures through which the actuating rod 3 1 may pass freely. Any other means to prevent access to the lower portion of the inner member, in the event that the top plate 42 is removed, may be employed.

By means of the construction described, the upper compartment or space 15 which is much more readily accessible than the lower valuables compartment 31, may be used for storage of materials of less value or smaller amounts of money, and by locking this compartment, the lower valuables compartment 31 is double locked. The upper compartment 15 may, vided with partitions 50 for dividing the compartment into a number of spaces, some of which may, for example, be used for containing bills or notes, and others for coins. These lesser amounts of valuables can be kept in the secured to spaced horizontal. plates or for example, be prov compartment 15 and as they accumulate, portions or all of these valuables may be deposited in the lower compart ment 31.

If desired, part or all of the space between the two groups 40 of obstructing members shown in the drawings, may also be utilized for the storage of valuables, as by folding a sheet of cardboard or thin metal to form an upright tube 48 which will fit within the angle bars 26, as shown in Fig. 1. Access to such a compartment can be had through the upper end thereof, when the inner member is withdrawn.

Means are preferably also provided for depositing valuables in the lower compartment 31 without removing the inner member from the housing. This is accomplished in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, by means of a tube or duct 52 which terminates at its upper end in the compartment 15, and at its lower end in the valuables compartment 31 of the safe. This tube is of such a size that small boxes or containers 53 may drop lengthwise downwardly in this tube into the lower compartment, these containers being preferably of a convenient size to hold the desired quantity of valuables, such as a roll of bills. In order to make it impossible to remove valuables from the compartment 31 through the tube 52, the tube is preferably made of a tortuous or winding nature by bending the tubes, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so that it is impossible to pass any stick or instrument lengthwise of the tube for the purpose of withdrawing valuables from the interior of the compartment 31. The lower end of the tube terminates in a hole 54; in the wall of the outer housing 10 or 191 and a corresponding hole 55 is formed in the wall of the valuables compartment of the inner member so as to register with the dicharge end of the tube, this hole 55, in the particular construction shown, forming a part of the opening to in the valuables compartment.

It is also possible in connection with my improved safe to deposit valuables in the safe from a floor or floors above the cellar or basement by providing a tube or duct 56 as shown in Fig. 6, the upper end of which extends through the floor at a side of the upper compartment 15 of the safe. One or more extensions 57 of this tube may be employed, so that the upper end of the tube terminates at 58 on a floor above the cellar or basement. In the case of stores, cash may be taken at intervals from the cash register 59 and placed into a box or container 53 and dropped into the inlet 58 of the tube 57 for deposit in the lower valuables compartment 31.

In the use of my improved safe in filling stations, chain stores or the like, it is, of course, possible for the manager of the place of business to have the key for the lock 20 without knowing the combination or having the means for opening the lock 32. He can, therefore, deposit the greater portion of the cash receipts of his store, or place of business, through the tube 52 or 56 into the valuables compartment 31 of the safe, and in closing the place of business at night, can. deposit in the upper compartment 15 sufficient money to make change upon opening on the following day. At suitable intervals of time a collector may remove the contents of the compartment 31. Similarly, if the safe is used in a residence, valuables may be conveniently and quickly dropped through the tube 52 into the compartment 31 without the trouble of unlocking the inner member of the safe from the outer member, but if desired the drop tube 52 may be entirely omitted, as may also be the enlarged compartment 15 or cabinet at the upper end of the outer housing 10.

The inner removable member 30 of the safe may, of course, be provided with any desired number of valuables compartments, only one be- 3 ing shown in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6. In the construction illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5, an additional receptacle or container for valuables is provided, which may be detached from the inner removable member 30 and in which certain valuables which are not frequently used may be deposited, such as papers, documents, securities or the like. The outer shell or housing member 101 shown in Fig. 2 is, consequently, made slightly longer than those shown in Figs. 1 and 6, to provide space for an additional container or receptacle 60 for such documents or other valuables. In the construction shown in Fig. 2 during the ordinary use of the safe, this container 60 remains in the bottom of the outer shell or housing 101, but if it is desired to withdraw this container, this may be done by means of a connection of any suitable kind for attaching the container 66 to the inner member 30. In the construction shown for this purpose, a connecting member is shown, which is in the form of a rod 61 which extends lengthwise of the inner member 30, and terminates at its upper end above the top plate 42. A handle 62 may be provided at the upper end of the rod 61 and the lower end of the rod extends below the valuables compar ment 31 and has a hook or bent portion 68 which may engage a part of the receptacle 66. In the construction shown, the top wall of the receptacle 60 is provided with a lip or projection 64 arranged above the top wall of the container 60 in a position to be engaged by the hook or angle portion 63 of the rod 61, when this rod is depressed from the position shown in Fig. 1 and turned through approximately half a right angle. tion or lip 64 may be provided in its under surface with a groove or recess 65 into which the bent-over portion 63 of the rod may enter. Preferably, the rod is provided with a spring 66, such as shown at the upper end of the rod in Fig. 2, which engages the handle portion 62 and normally holds this rod in its upper position.

During the ordinary use of the safe, the rod is not used, but when it is desired to withdraw the container 60, the handle 62 of the rod 61 is depressed against the action of the spring 66 and is then turned through approximately an angle of 45 degrees from the position shown in Fig. 4, to cause the laterally bent end 63 to engage under the lip 64, thus coupling the lower receptacle 60 to the inner member 30. Any other means for providing a connection between the receptacle 68 and the inner member 30 may, of course, be employed in place of the rod 61 and other parts shown in the drawings, or if desired, such connection may be entirely omitted, since the receptacle 60 can be readily withdrawn from the housing 161 after the inner member is removed therefrom by any suitable rod or strap of sufficient length to reach the receptacle 60 and hook on or connect therewith. By means of this arrangement, a plurality of valuables compartments or containers may be contained within the same safe and guarded by the same look or locks, so that very little expense is added to the cost of the safe for thus increasing the capacity thereof. Additional compartments may, of course, be contained within the outer shell or housing 101, if desired.

The construction described is such that it is extremely difiicult for any one not having the necessary combination or key for unlocking the safe, to obtain the contents of the compartment 31. By arranging this compartment a substan- The projectial distance under the ground, it is practically impossible to obtain access to the lower compartment except from the upper end of the safe. By arranging the look. so that it also is located a considerable distance below the surface of the ground, basement or cellar door, the forcing of the lock is practically impossible. Even if the dial 33 be broken of the upper end of the shaft 34, this will in no way facilitate the releasing of the lock 32 and if the top plate 42 is removed by breaking or melting the same, it is still impossible to obtain access to the lock because of the obstructions i3, 4 which occupy suflicient space within the inner member 30 to prevent the use of a crow bar or other implement within the inner member which would be heavy enough to break the lock 32. The use of explosives to obtain the valuables would, in all probability, result in the wedging of the inner member more securely into locking engagement with the outer member.

The inner member, constructed as shown in the drawings, is light enough so that it can be easily lifted out of the outer shell or housing 10, and if desired, a handle or grip for lifting the inner member (not shown) can be secured to the top plate 42. Furthermore, the safe can be installed in any building at a very low cost and occupies no room within the building, and a relatively large mass of concrete can be poured around the outer shell 10 with comparatively little expense and without the necessity of constructing forms, since the hole dug in the ground constitutes the form for the concrete.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in a vertical construction arranged in the ground, it will be obvious that the invention may be utilized in other parts of a building where the material surrounding the safe may be arranged above the ground, or it may be more convenient or desirable to dispose the safe in a hori zontal position. In such case, the safe can also be securely embedded in a mass of concrete, masonry or other suitable material.

It may be desirable at times to install a plurality of these safes in the same place, for use, for example, by different members of the same household or place of business.

Such a contingency may be met by a construction of the sort shown in Fig. '7, in which three housings or outer members '70 terminate at their upper ends in a common compartment or enclosure 71, which is provided with a lock '72, as before. Each of the housings '70 has its individual, separately removable inner member '74, one of which is shown in part at the right hand side of said Fig. '7. Preferably, each inner member is locked to a lock housing '75 on the outer member or housing by a lock controlled by a combination dial, or other element different from each of the others, so that only the rightful owners or other authorized persons can gain access thereto, while all persons concerned may have keys to the lock of the common upper compartment 71. This multiple arrangement is also economical, since in addition to the fact that only one upper compartment is needed, the entire assembly can be embedded in a single mass of concrete 76, thus obviating the necessity or" digging separate holes and pouring individual masses of concrete for each safe. The space required is also minimizes.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and i, the lock controlling dial or element 33 is permanently secured to the upper end of the actuating rod 34- and remains in the upper compartment 15 at all times However, if the maximum protection is required, or if it is not thought desirable for the attendant to have access to or know the combination, the lock controlling element may be made removable so as to remain in custody of the owner or in that of a designated person.

For this purpose a construction such as is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 may be employed, in which the actuating rod is composed of two sections '78 and 79. The section 78 is secured to the look within the inner member 74 and its upper end terminates at some distance below the top plate 80 of the inner member, while the other section 79 is secured to the dial or element 81 and is removable therewith from the safe. To operate the lock, the upper end 82 of the lower section '78, and the lower end 83 of the upper section '79 may be formed with suitable complementary parts enabling the sections to be coupled together, only when the section 79 has been inserted into the member 74 through holes in the top plate 80 and baiiie plates 85, with the dial 81 in a predetermined position. Or the section 79 and said holes in the removable member 74 may be of such cross section or form as to enable the part '78 and dial to be applied in only one position. This and the fact that the upper end 82 of the section '78 is at some distance below the top plate 80, where it cannot be seen, makes it practically impossible to determine the formation of said end, reducing the possibility of a properly shaped tool or part being inserted and the section 78 actuated, and rendering the safe still more diflicult to burglar- It will be particularly observed that in all of the constructions illustrated, the valuables compartment or compartments are disposed in the inner member or members at a point remote from the outer end thereof, and at a considerable distance within the mass of concrete or other embedding or protecting materials.

I claim as my invention:

1. A safe including an outer housing member of materially greater length than width and adapted to be embedded in a of solid material, and open at an end, an inner member slidable lengthwise into and out of said housing and fitting snugly within said housing member to prevent insertion of an implement between said i housing and said inner member, a bolt in the inner portion of said safe for locking the inner member to said outer member, means for storing valuables in. the inner portion of said safe, and means operable at the outer end of said safe for actuating said bolt.

2. A safe including an outer housing member of materially greater length than width and adapted to be sunk lengthwise into the ground,

an inner member slidable lengthwise into and out of said outer member, a valuables compartment at the lower portion thereof, a tumbler lock arranged the lower portion of said inner member, a dial for said tumbler lock at the upper portion of said inner member, and a connection between said dial and said tumbler lock for actuating said look from the upper end of said inner member.

3. A safe including an outer housing member of materially greater length than width and adapted to be sunk lengthwise into the ground, an inner member slidable lengthwise into and out oi said outer member, a valuables compartment at the lower portion thereof, a tumbler lock arranged in the lower portion of said inner memsaid inner member to Tniember arranged to slide into upper end thereof,

irenioved from ,means for locking said ber slidable lengthwise her, a dial for said tumbler look at the upper portion of said inner member, means interposed between said lock and said dial to prevent access to said look if said dial is removed, and a connection between said dial and lock and extending through said interposed means.

4. A safe including a substantially straight outer housing member of materially greater length than width and adapted to be embedded in a mass of solid material and having a space for valuables at the inner portion thereof, an inner member fitting snugly within said outer housing and adapted to be inserted lengthwise into the same and filling the outer portion of said housing, a cabinet of considerably greater width than said housing member and secured to the outer end of said housing member, and through which said inner member passes in moving into and out of its position in said housing, said cabinet forming an enlarged compartment within which said housing member terminates at its upper end, means for locking said compartment, and means within said compartment for locking said housing.

5. A safe including a relatively shallow cabinet and having a closure for the upper side thereof for locking said cabinet, a housing secured to and extending downwardly from said cabinet and adapted to be embedded in solidmaterial, an inner and out of said housing through the closure for said cabinet and filling the upper portion of said housing when in its operative position, a valuables compartment in the lower portion of said housing, and means ar- Jranged within said cabinet for effecting the l ocking of said inner and outer members to each other.

6. A safe including a relatively shallow cabinet, and having means for opening and closing the a housin ex e d ng o nwardly from said cabinet and opening at its upper end into said cabinet and adapted to be sunk into the ground, an inner member telescopically ar. ranged within said housing and adapted to be the through said opening in said cabinet, said inner member filling the upper portion of said housing when in its operative position, a valuables compartment in the lower portion of said housing, locking means mounted on Jthe lower portion of said safe for locking said inner and outer members together, and actuating means for said lockingmeans arran 'edwith- .in said cabinet.

7. A safe including an outer housing member of materially greater length than width and adapted to be sunk lengthwise into a mass of solid material and open at its upper end, an inner member slidable lengthwise into and out of said house "ing a space for valuables at the lower end thereof, members to each other, and a passage, the upper end of which is accessible exteriorly of said housing member and the lower end of which terminates in said valuables compartment and through which valuables may I be dropped into said compartment.

8. A safe including an outer housing member of materially greater length than Width and adapted to be sunk lengthwise into a mass of solid material and open at its upper end, an inner meminto and out of said housing a space for valuables at the lower end thereof, means for looking said members to each other, and a tortuous tube terminating at its lower end in registering openings in said housing and valuables compartment and terminating at its upper end exteriorly of said housing to permit valuables to be dropped into said valuables compartment without unlocking said members.

9. A safe including a relatively shallow cabinet, and having means for opening and closing the upperend thereof, a housing extending downwardly from said cabinet and opening at its upper end into said cabinet and adapted to be embedded in solid material, an inner member telescopically arranged within said housing and adapted to be removed from the same through said opening in said cabinet, said inner member having a valuables compartment in the lower portion thereof, means for locking said inner member and housing to each other, and a passage leading from said cabinet into said valuables compartment and through which valuables may be deposited in said compartment.

1s. A safe including a relatively shallow cabinet, means for opening and closing the outer end thereof, an outer housing extending inwardly from said cabinet into a mass of protecting material and opening at its outer end into said cabinet, an inner member telescopically arranged within said housing and adapted to be removed from the same through said open outer end of said cabinet, said inner member having a valuables compartment in a portion thereof remote from said cabinet, means for locking said inner member to said housing, said valuables compartment and housing each having registering openings in a side wall thereof, and a tube terminating at one end in said openings and having its other end disposed so that valuables may be dropped into said valuables compartment through said tube without removing said inner member, said tube having a bend therein to prevent an implement from being inserted into said valuables compartment to remove valuables through said tube.

11. A safe including an outer housing member, an inner member adapted to be moved lengthwise into and out of said housing member, a valuables compartment at the inner end thereof, a lock in the inner portion of said inner member, actuating means for said lock arranged at the outer end of said inner member, and a plurality of obstructing members in said inner member in the space-between said lockand the actuating means therefor to prevent access to said lock and valuables compartment if said actuating means for said lock are broken.

12. A safe including an outer tubular housing member, an inner member adapted to be moved lengthwise into and out of said housing member, a valuables compartment at the inner portion thereof, a lock in said inner portion of said inner member, actuating means for said lock arranged at the outer end of said inner member, and a plurality of connected transverse and vertical obstructing partitions secured to said inner member and arranged between said lock and the actuating means therefor.

13. A safe including an outer housing member of materially greater length than width and encased lengthwise in a mass of protecting material, said housing member being open at its outer end, an inner member slidable lengthwise into and out of said housing, a container adapted to be placed into the inner end of said housing, and means operable at will for detachably connecting said container and inner member for withdrawing said container and inner member out of said housing.

14. A safe including an outer tubular housing member, an inner member adapted to be moved 6 lengthwise into and out of said housing member, means for locking said members to each other, and a container adapted to be inserted into the inner end of said housing member and normally detached from said inner member and confined in said housing by said inner member when the same is locked to said outer member.

15. A safe including an outer housing member of materially greater length than width and adapted to be embedded in a mass of solid material and which is open at its upper end, an inner member slidable lengthwise into and out of said housing and which is slightly shorter than said housing member, means in the lower portion of said safe and operable from the upper portion thereof for locking said inner member to said outer member, and a container arranged in the lower end of said housing member beyond the end of said inner member and confined against removal from said safe when said inner member is in locked position.

16. A safe including an outer housing member of materially greater length than width and adapted to be sunk lengthwise vertically into the ground and which is open at its upper end, an inner member-slidable lengthwise into and out of said housing and having a space for valuables in the lower end thereof, means in the lower portion of said safe for locking the inner member to said outer member, means at the upper end of said safe for actuating said locking means, a container adapted to be placed into the lower end of said housing member and normally detached therefrom and from said inner member, and means extending lengthwise of said inner member and operable at the upper portion thereof for coupling said container to said inner member for withdrawing the same from said housing with said inner member.

1'7. A safe construction comprising a relative 1y shallow cabinet having a closure for the open side thereof, a plurality of individual housings each secured at its outer end to and within said cabinet and which extends therefrom into a mass of protecting material, a corresponding number of inner members slidable into and out of said housings through said cabinet and each having a valuables compartment at its inner end, means remote from the outer ends of said inner members for locking them individually to theirrespective housings, and different look controlling devices for each of said locking means arranged to actuate said looks from within said cabinet, and a'single lock for said cabinet closure for locking said cabinet.

18. A safe including a relatively shallow cabinet, means for closing and locking the outer end thereof, a housing secured at its outer end to and within said cabinet and which extends therefrom into a mass of protecting material, an inner member telescopically arranged in said housing and which is removable through the open end of said cabinet, locking means remote from the outer ends of said housing and inner member for locking the same together, a dial or the like element for actuating said locking means, and an operative connection between said dial and said locking means comprising two sections, one of which is arranged in said inner member inwardly beyond the outer end thereof and is secured to said locking means, and the other section of which is secured to said dial and is removable therewith from said safe and which is fashioned so as to be inserted into said inner member and coupled to said first section in a predetermined relation thereto, to actuate said locking means when said cabinet is opened.

19. A safe including an outer housing member of materially greater length than width and adapted to be embedded in a mass of solid material, and open at an end, an inner member slidable lengthwise into and out of said housing and fitting snugly within said housing and occupying the greater portion of the length of said housing, a bolt adjacent to the inner end of said inner member for locking said inner member and housing together, and means operable adjacent to the outer end of said inner member for actuating said bolt.

20. A safe including a housing of elongated tubular form having a space for valuables at one end thereof and open at the other end thereof, and adapted to be embedded in a mass of solid material, an inner member fitting snugly within said housing and extending substantially from the open end of said housing to said space for valuables and provided at least at intervals throughout the length thereof with means for preventing access to said space, a bolt for locking said inner member and housing together at the inner end of said inner member, and means operable adjacent to the outer end of said inner member for actuating said bolt.

21. A safe including a housing having a space for valuables at one end thereof and having an elongated passage leading to said space, an inner member arranged in said passage and substantially filling the same both crosswise and lengthwise, a bolt for locking said inner member to said housing adjacent to the inner end of said inner member, and means operable at the outer end of said housing for actuating said bolt.

22. A safe including an outer housing member of materially greater length than width and adapted to be embedded in a mass of solid material, an inner member which fills the greater portion of the interior of said outer member and extends into proximity to the inner end of the same, means for locking said inner and outer members to each other and located at a distance from the outer end of said outer member, and means adjacent to the outer end of said outer member for actuating said locking means.

CHARLES K. ERNST. 

